Device for exercising and treating feet



Patented Sept. 7, 1948 UNITED sTAiTEs PATENT OFFICE `walter Gusuin, Elsinore, Calif. Application September 6, 1943, Serial No. 501,353

This invention has to do with a device for exercising and treating feet, an` object of the invention being to provide an extremely simple, effective and practical device of this-character.

Many people suffer from ailments of the feet for which applications of heat or cold are prescribed, or for which exercise or massage is prescribed. It is generally recognized that massage and exercise of the feet and the application of heat or cold are not only beneficial for the relief of foot ailments but are benecial for `the general care and comfort of the feet, as they are means by which the muscles of the feet are-exercised and by which normal circulation is induced.

It is an object of this invention to provide a device of simple form and construction, operable to effectively massage and exercise the feet. 'Ihe device of the present invention'is of the roller type and is characterized by a roller surface coniiguration which not only gives the feet general exercise but at the same time has a desirable massaging effect. l

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the character referred to having a structural formation or arrangement of parts whereby the device can be advantageously formed of glass and yet be strong and in no way dangerous to use. It is particularly* advantageous to be able to use glass in-the formation of the device as such material lends itself to cheap construction due to the fact that glass is readily manufactured into the form desired. It isfurther advantageous to use glass, as it provides a smooth surface having characteristics highly desirable for the purpose intended. It is alsoA desirable to employ glass as it will readily conduct heat and can be very easily cleaned.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device of the character mentioned which will readily receive a heating or cooling medium such as water or ice in a quantity and so as to be particularly effective. A feature of the construction that I have provided is the manner in which the chunks of ice.

The various objpects and features of in` vention will be fully understood fromthe following detailed description ofeJ typical .prelferred form and application of my invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which: p

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a typical form and application of the present invention, showing the manner in which the several rollers of the device simultaneously bear on a common `supporting surface, part of the device being shown in section. Fig. 2 is an end elevation ofthe device being a view taken as indicated by` line 2-2 on Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detailed transverse device will readily receivel comme. (ci. 12s-24.3)

sectional view of the device taken as indicated by line 3.3 on Fig. 1 and indicating the manner in which the device is used. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken substantially as indicated by line 4 4 on Fig. 1 and Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken as in dicated by line 5--5 on Fig. 1.

-The device provided by my present invention is. generally, in the form of an elongate hollow cylindrical body closed at one end by a fixed or integral end wall IB and at the other end by a removable cap II and having its exterior shaped or formed to present end rollers I2 adjacent the ends of the device, a center roller I3 at the middle or center of the device and tread portions A and B between the rollers.

The body being a hollow elongate cylindrical structure closed at one end and provided at the other end with a removable cap, is in the nature of a container suitable for carrying a heating medium or cooling medium as circumstances require. The opening or cavity I4 of the body may be uniform in size throughout its length and may be formed round in cross section and concentric with the longitudinal axis of the device or as shown in the drawing it may conform generally or closely to the general outside contour of the device to facilitate manufacture and to provide equal surface temperature at all parts of the device. In practice the cavity I4 is made as large in cross section as is consistent with having suiiicient wall thickness to safely withstand the pressures to which the device is subjected in the course of use.

At the end of the body which is closed by the cap I I a flange I5 projects beyond the end roller I2. The inner surface of the flange I5 is continuous with that of the cavity I4 so that there is no restriction of any kind at the open end of the body. The exterior of the flange is formed with a thread I6. The cap II is made to screw thread onto the flange I5 and, in practice, a suitablegasket or washer I1 may be provided to make a fluidtight seal when the cap is applied as shown in the drawings. In practice the cap may be formed of any suitable material, for instance, it may be metal or it may be formed of glass, plastic, or other material as circumstances require.

vThe end rollers I2 are preferably located at the extreme end portions of the body and are located concentric with the longitudinal axis of the body and are sufliciently large in diameter to serve with the center roller I3 to support the device on a surface S so that all of the other parts of the device are free of the surface. With this construction the device is effectively supported at three points, that is, at either end and at the middle, so that it is free to roll. By making the rollers all alike in diameter the device will roll straight, that is, it Will be without tendency to tread varies in diameter at diiferentpointsx'inits length or in other words, is longitudinally curved to have a portion X pitched to correspond, more or less, to that of the arch portion of the average foot. The end portion of the tread adjacent the end roller i2 curves outwardly from the point of minimum diameter as clearly shown in Fig. l,- to prevent a tendency for the foot to slide off of the pitched portion X.

In accordance with my invention each tread instead of being plain or smooth surfaced isprovided with means to eifectively lrnead or massage the foot as the device'is operated.4 This means is Apreferably in the form of a plurality of'lcngitudinally disposed ribs 29 formed on the exterior of the tread and extending continuously from the center roller i3 to the end roller l2. rlhe crests or outer portions 2! of the ribs are rounded off and the valleys` or depressions between adjacent ribs are rounded so that the periphery of the tread is, in eiTect, corrugated, as shown in Fig. 3. l

My invention further provides for the interruption of the ribs to minimize any tendency for the users footto slip longitudinally of the ribs and to further act to knead or massage the foot in the course of operation of thev device. By my invention I provide angularly disposed notches 23 in the crest portions of the ribs so that the ribs are corrugated longitudinally as clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

Through the construction hereinabove de scribed it willy be apparent that I have providedv a massaging surface on the tread portion which is corrugated circumferentially and alsoV longitudinally so that the device has a very effective massaging action. It is to be understood of course that the ribs, as above described, are cast or formedin the shape or configuration described and are smooth surfaced so that they will not in any way injure or irritate the feet.

To use the device it is preferably placed on the door or on a surface S and may for general purposes be left empty when in use. The user places either one or both feet on the device, placing the left foot on the tread left of the center roller I3, and. the right foot on the tread at the right of the center roller i3. By rolling the device by means of the feet so that it rolls back and forth under 'the feet the muscles of the feet are effectively exercised andthe surface of the treads which I have provided operate to effectively massage the feet. If it is desired to cool or chill the' feet a suitable cooling medium may be filled into the device and the cap Il applied, for instance, ice or ice water may be lled into the device, in which case the glass or like material out of which the device is preferably formed quickly becomes cool. By forming the cavity I4 so rthat it has no restriction at its outer or open end it is possible to fill large bodies or chunks of` ice into the device. If it is desired to heat or warm the feet hot Water, or the like, may be apart from being oppory filled Sinto the device and the cap applied, in which case the device becomes warm.

Itis to lbe understood, of course, that although I prefer toiform the device of the present invention of glass, other materials may be'used, it

ybeing preferred in practice to use a material that can be cast as the structure of the invention lends itself particularly to that mode of manufacture. It is also to be understood that the device is preferably formed so that there are no sharp corners or parts that might injure or irritate-the. user auditv is also to be understood that v the wall thickness of the body is, in any particular'case,` to be made sufficiently heavy to withstand the use to which the devise is intended to be subjected.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details hereinset forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modications that may appear to those skilled in the jart or fall Within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

l. A device ofthe character described including `an Velongate hollow body having spaced roller portions and a tread portion between the roller portions and concentric therewith, there being longitudinal ribs projecting from the trea portion, the crest portion of each rib having diagonally disposed notches, the ribs being uniformly spaced aroux'id'the tread portion and the notches being uniformly spaced and equally pit-ched.

2. A device of the character described including an elongatehollow body closed at one end and open 'at the other end, the body having an end roller at each end, a center roller intermediate its ends, a tread portion between each end roller and thel center roller, and a closure for the open end of the body, each 'tread having longitudinally disposed transversely notched ribs projecting from it,- a threaded annular ange at the open endof the body, and a cap threaded to the flange.

3. A device of the character described including an elongate hollow body having spaced roller portions Wth one of said roller portions adjacent each end of the device, a tread portion between eachv two roller portions and concentric therewith, there being longitudinal ribs projecting from each such tread portion with smooth-surfaced irregularities on the'ribs of a contour suitable for massaging a'fhuinan foot as it is rolled thereon.

WALTER GUSTLIN.

REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references are of Iile vof" this patent:

"UNITEDSTATES PATENTS record in the 

